Sharp Axes

[azabob]

Re: Sharp Axes

Their talented list that has holes all over it, has no depth, and one defensive tall (who hasn't played for half the season give or take) that would get a game in most top twelve sides........everyone says our list is super talented but doesn't really think about it. It's maddening.

What are you responding to? To David Kings comments or other general media comments?

[angelopetraglia]

Re: Sharp Axes

What are you responding to? To David Kings comments or other general media comments?

Not all. But that appears to be the narrative of most commentators looking for a headline. Like Cornes.

[jeemak]

Re: Sharp Axes

What are you responding to? To David Kings comments or other general media comments?

I didn't listen to the hot take on twitter, just read the following - David King is struggling to work out what the problem at the Western Bulldogs is given their list talent.

It's a narrative that he's been pushing and if he seriously can't understand it then he's not as clever as he thinks he is because there's inadequacies/ imbalances across all of the lines that are evident with a rudimentary level of scrutiny. Now it's either incompetence or a ploy, possibly both.

[angelopetraglia]

Re: Sharp Axes

I didn't listen to the hot take on twitter, just read the following - David King is struggling to work out what the problem at the Western Bulldogs is given their list talent.

It's a narrative that he's been pushing and if he seriously can't understand it then he's not as clever as he thinks he is because there's inadequacies/ imbalances across all of the lines that are evident with a rudimentary level of scrutiny. Now it's either incompetence or a ploy, possibly both.

He failed as a coach. Gambles too much. Drinks too much. Now a media commentator.

[azabob]

Re: Sharp Axes

I didn't listen to the hot take on twitter, just read the following - David King is struggling to work out what the problem at the Western Bulldogs is given their list talent.

It's a narrative that he's been pushing and if he seriously can't understand it then he's not as clever as he thinks he is because there's inadequacies/ imbalances across all of the lines that are evident with a rudimentary level of scrutiny. Now it's either incompetence or a ploy, possibly both.

Ok, maybe you should listen to the 2 minutes of audio.

I also think you are lumping Cornes and King into the same basket assuming the both have the same narrative on the Dogs - which they do not.

[DOG GOD]

Re: Sharp Axes

I really laugh when I see the media overate our list. Look at it. We have a handful of A-B+ players. And we have more than a handful of VFL standard players. Yes we look good on paper full strength, but there is still glaring holes and hear I’m talking about the team in general. Lack of game plan. Lack of kicking skills, lack of tackling skills, lack of goal kicking skills.

Bont, Libba, Macrae, Treloar and smith look great but are massively overrated in what they offer in a team play environment.

We have a fwd line with 3 genuine fwds (Jamarra, Lobb and Weightman)
We have a CHB playing FF who can’t kick….simple.
And we have mids playing fwd coz there?s nowhere else to play them.

Our wingers are VFL standard

Our backline KPD is laughable, except for Jones
Keath (cooked in 2022), O?Brien (vfl standard) Gardner (vfl standard), Bruce (was never going to make it as a backman)
Buss (2 years away) Darcy (2 years away) JOD (18 months away)

I’ve said it before. I honestly didn’t expect us to make the 8 with the list we have, the game plan we have and the coaching staff we have. And unless really big decisions are made, then I see the next 2-3 years being much the same.

People say about the Bont years. Sorry, but they are over. We got our 2016 premiership. I don’t think the bont years will bring another, unless all of things change, but I don’t think we are the club to make the big decisions.

[Grantysghost]

Re: Sharp Axes

Ok, maybe you should listen to the 2 minutes of audio.

I also think you are lumping Cornes and King into the same basket assuming the both have the same narrative on the Dogs - which they do not.

King is way worse as he actually thinks he knows what he is talking about, whereas Kane is very aware of his method of attention seeking.

[The bulldog tragician]

Re: Sharp Axes

I would agree our list is over-rated and has clear weaknesses...but it has also been pointed out here the number of matches in which a solid 4 goal+ advantage has been squandered. Even winning half of those - with the same deficiencies - could have had us top 4. It's the fact we so consistently lost such matches from that position that is of concern.

[DOG GOD]

Re: Sharp Axes

I would agree our list is over-rated and has clear weaknesses...but it has also been pointed out here the number of matches in which a solid 4 goal+ advantage has been squandered. Even winning half of those - with the same deficiencies - could have had us top 4. It's the fact we so consistently lost such matches from that position that is of concern.

And so why is that?

My 2 cents is it’s either our players are mentally weak, body fatigued, or just generally lose focus easily…OR Bevo has no answer to a change of gameplan in the oppositions coaching box.

[bulldogtragic]

Re: Sharp Axes

Our list is good enough to take 20-40 point leads. List not over rated at this point.

Our list is bad enough to lose after 20-40 point leads. List is over rated at this point.

[GVGjr]

Re: Sharp Axes

Membership is not just about getting tickets to a game. It is more than that.

If people want to join when we win, fine and not join when we lose fine. I actually don't get that attitude.

There are a few components to this but many people donate to charities, many people leave restaurants if they don't like the food while others go to the same place regularly. People leave the movies early if they can't endure watching it to the end any more and guess what that also happens at games of footy.

We need to accept that some people vote with their feet and that they aren't necessarily members for life.

Regarding the membership and the part it plays for the club, after something like 9 years of very solid profits surely we are past the 'club might go under' thought process in any membership discussion and I'm not saying that is your point.
Surely its time for our membership offer to represent decent value for money for our membership base rather than having a higher 'donation to the club' type theme?

I was recently talking to a well connected Hawks supporter former colleague of mine who despite a couple of lean years and a couple of more to come he's still massively onboard with the clubs direction because it's been clearly communicated to all of the members.
Perhaps there is some food for thought there for us.

We recruited like we were topping up for another finals effort and have come up short and without people having an understanding of why its happened it's understandable that it can create a level of anger and angst for some people.

I contribute a decent sum each year to my membership which of course is my choice. Over the last two years and obviously the two Covid years before that (which isn't the clubs fault) it just hasn't represented decent value from my perspective.
After writing to the club and detailing some concerns their response wasn't what I expected so after 19 years as a player sponsor I will be taking a different club membership next year.

There are thousands of our supporters, including many people from interstate and in the country regions, making charitable type donations to the club through their memberships and I wouldn't be critical or question their motives if they decide somewhere down the track to cut back or cease it.

I think there are some genuine reasons why we have fallen short on expectations this year and I wonder if the club should get on the front foot and at least engage the members.

[DOG GOD]

Re: Sharp Axes

Our list is good enough to take 20-40 point leads. List not over rated at this point.

Our list is bad enough to lose after 20-40 point leads. List is over rated at this point.

So where do you see the issues to the above BT ?
Is it that our players lose focus ? We have no plan B or we can’t put it into practice, or our players are not conditioned enough (use a lot of petrol to get those leads and run out of legs)

[jeemak]

Re: Sharp Axes

Ok, maybe you should listen to the 2 minutes of audio.

I also think you are lumping Cornes and King into the same basket assuming the both have the same narrative on the Dogs - which they do not.

He's been misrepresented by the byline in this instance but he's previously talked up our talent. I haven't mentioned Cornes and don't listen to much of what he says.

[Bornadog]

Re: Sharp Axes

Our list is good enough to take 20-40 point leads. List not over rated at this point.

Our list is bad enough to lose after 20-40 point leads. List is over rated at this point.

Our list is close, but needs a tweak, especially from the backline and transitioning forward. By tweak, I mean some better players, and that is hard to do. I want to go to draft and no more hasbeens from other clubs. This should also mean trading out some good players for picks and bringing in what we need.

Losses of 7 points to Suns, 12 to Pies, 2 to Swans, 5 to Giants and 3 to Hawks says we aren't far away from top 4.
However, you can't rely on having your best team on the park every week, so you need decent backups - we haven't got any.

[bulldogtragic]

Re: Sharp Axes

So where do you see the issues to the above BT ?
Is it that our players lose focus ? We have no plan B or we can’t put it into practice, or our players are not conditioned enough (use a lot of petrol to get those leads and run out of legs)

I don’t know exactly. It feels like we are getting the “Rope a dope” treatment. We go out thrashing around putting points on the board, and then get pummeled by Ali to a loss.

For the non-boxing types:

The rope-a-dope is a boxing fighting technique in which one contender leans against the ropes of the boxing ring and draws non-injuring offensive punches, letting the opponent tire himself out. This gives the former the opportunity to then execute devastating offensive punches to help them win. The rope-a-dope is most famously associated with Muhammad Ali in his October 1974 Rumble in the Jungle match against world heavyweight champion George Foreman in Kinshasa, Zaire.